Armstrong ratcheting wrenches

[lincwelder225]

I came across a new set of these (new old stock) on eBay. I like the fact they have a selector lever for forward/reverse. They are the 10 piece metric set. They are significantly lower priced than snap on. Two questions

1) to anyone that has them, are they a good tool? I've heard great things about them, just wanted actual experience from actual users.

2) if I do decide to get them, what's a fair price/offer for them?

 

[WWheeler]

I've no experience with them. But, since Armstrong is no more, another casualty of parent company Apex running a good tool company into the ground, I'd be more concerned with what I assume will be a lack of warranty ability, especially so with ratcheting wrenches.

 

[jsmeece]

Let me first say that I really like my Armstrong tools, I do not have these so I cannot comment. But, I know a guy down the road from me and he has them and really likes them. His main concern now is warranty issues. He told me if one breaks, and he tries to get a replacement it will likely be a Gearwrench one. He is a professional engineer and uses these wrench at home to tinker with, so I do not think he will ever need to warranty one. But for a professional mechanic, they likely would eventually need a warranty replacement.

I do have the Gearwrench flex-head, non-reversible and now the reversible wrenches. I really like them, but I do not use them to break nuts of bolts loose. I know that the GW ratcheting wrenches are not the same quality as the Armstrong versions. But, you can get a metric 8 piece set of the GW version right now for around $30. I bought the SAE and Metric reversible from Advance Auto lest month for $30 each set.

If you really want them and plan on using them at home, I would likely not pay more then $100 for them.

So, my opinion, home use OK. Pro use, i would find something else with warranty.

I really HATE what happened to Armstrong and Allen tool brands. More than half of my wrenches are Allen or Armstrong.

 

[lincwelder225]

I liked Armstrong alot myself.... and yes, the warranty thing is a bit of a concern of mine. I have the 20 pc gearwrench set (10 pc metric, 10 sae). I've never used them.(Really, I should sell them!!) I also know to not try and break bolts loose with the ratcheting end. Do I really need them? No, but there are times when a ratcheting wrench would come in real handy. I just can't justify spending upwards of $450-500 on a snap on set. I've had great luck with Armstrong tools and figured that these had the features and hopefully the quality I was looking for.

 

[jsmeece]

If you know there limitations, warranty concerns, and for occasional use, I think the Armstrongs would be a good choice if the "price is right."

Yes, in tight spots they are VERY handy, replaced my starter on my Lincoln LS and the upper bolt was a ***** to get out, a flex-head ratcheting wrench made that chore easier on my wrist. So, I know what you mean.

Sell the GW set you have to offset the cost of the Armstrongs, I would, specially if you do not use them.

Have you looked that the Blackhawk version? I think they maybe import, warranty would be easy.

Look at Zoro for Proto, 13 piece set for around $200. You should be able to find a 20% coupon for them on-line. that would get you a great set for $160 bucks with a great warranty. I would get Proto ratcheting wrench over Armstrong any day of the week due to future warranty issues.
https://www.zoro.com/proto-ratcheting-wrench-set-combination-jscvmt-13s/i/G6764432/

 

[kala_azar]

I have a lot of Armstrong hand tools, all of them are awesome. Very sad to see that they went away.

That said, I second the suggestion for Proto ratcheting box wrenches. I have both full sets in SAE and Metric and they’re awesome


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shanny19]

Warranty concerns? You guys.
They’ll be warranted with Gearwrench.
So worst case, you’ll be joining the thousands of professional techs that choose to wrench w GW and rely on a GW warranty. Oh the horror!

 

[jsmeece]

Warranty concerns? You guys.
They’ll be warranted with Gearwrench.
So worst case, you’ll be joining the thousands of professional techs that choose to wrench w GW and rely on a GW warranty. Oh the horror!

I look at it this way, if I spend the money to get Armstrong over GW, then when I warranty an Armstrong and get a GW as a replacement, then why buy Armstrong in the first place, just buy the GW and some tons of money from the start. GW no where near the quality of Armstrong ratcheting wrenches.

When an Armstrong wrench needs warranty I want it replaced with another Armstrong, but now that cannot happen, so I would look at other brands of ratcheting wrenches if I was a pro. My GW are fine for home use, but for day in and day out GW are just not going to make it very long, sorry just reality.

 

[bobcatdan]

Warranty concerns? You guys.
They’ll be warranted with Gearwrench.
So worst case, you’ll be joining the thousands of professional techs that choose to wrench w GW and rely on a GW warranty. Oh the horror!

GW ***** these days. Very noticeable drop off in quailty. The several sets I own are from back when they were the only option for a ratcheting wrench. While imported, their fit and finish rivaled tool truck wrenches. Durning the time I have owned then, a few needed replacement, every time it's a drop in quailty. The last wrench I got might have been from HF. Absolutely no interest in any new GW tools.

 

[shanny19]

Ok, I gotta admit that all my GW is pushing 20 years old, i have no exp w current GW, and that I spend my ratcheting wrench $$ with Proto, both USA and Taiwan. Just get sick of all the warranty talk on here, I’ll pipe down haha.

 

[rijndael]

Just get sick of all the warranty talk on here, I’ll pipe down haha.

The best warranty is the one you'll never need.

 

[jsmeece]

Ok, I gotta admit that all my GW is pushing 20 years old, i have no exp w current GW, and that I spend my ratcheting wrench $$ with Proto, both USA and Taiwan. Just get sick of all the warranty talk on here, I’ll pipe down haha.

Not directed at you Shanny19, I know what you mean. But warranties need to be considered when purchasing hand tools.

I get sick of people who do not understand what warranty means: getting a GW instead of Armstrong is not a warranty it is a substitute. Armstrong for Armstrong is a warranty replacement.

 

[The Fall]

I have them. They work great. They're longer than the USA CMan version they (or Danaher) used to make. When I picked some old stock up, Fedwrench clued me in on that and he was correct.

They're worth whatever you feel a tool without a great replacement warranty is worth. Unlike a wrench, these stand a chance of slipping, even if you're not breaking fasteners with them. I bought two at a good price to complete a set of USA CMans I had. I'd probably look elsewhere if they're going for almost full retail when they were on the market. That said, I like the fact that they're reversible. It saves headaches.

 

[Guam_Guy]

I have both their selectable and fixed sets and love them. Never had an issue with them. As far as price, I couldn't tell you as I got these as a gift. But I have seen them all over the internet for 50-70 for the 11 piece sets. Hope this helps.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I have the Matco version, same thing as Armstrong going on 10 plus years. I use them in a professional setting doing collision repair. I've broken one wrench, 10mm, recently bought up some spares. The current GW version and those Armstrongs are a night and day difference.

 

[sbyrne92]

I got them the only bad thing so far is chrome flaking on the 15mm. But as a ratcheting wrench it’s awesome.

 

[KDoug]

I'll share my experience as well with Armstrong ratcheting wrenches. My dad bought me a 10 or 11 piece NOS set off EBay last Christmas for around $175. When I received them there were 3 or 4 that were jamming up right off the bat when I went to go use them. The EBay seller was very good to us, and offered to buy a replacement set at a local supply house and when he went to go test them, they were jamming up as well.. Bottom line is we tried to go through Apex, but all they could offer was a Gearwrench replacement set. This ended up being a couple month ordeal and ended just getting a refund. I would love to have another set of Armstrong ratcheting wrenches if I knew they were tested and actually worked. Due to Armstrong no longer being in business, I think I'm probably going to get the Proto USA ratcheting spline wrenches one day mentioned earlier in this thread. Hope this gives you some insight.

 

[buckwheat_la]

I look at it this way, if I spend the money to get Armstrong over GW, then when I warranty an Armstrong and get a GW as a replacement, then why buy Armstrong in the first place, just buy the GW and some tons of money from the start. GW no where near the quality of Armstrong ratcheting wrenches.

When an Armstrong wrench needs warranty I want it replaced with another Armstrong, but now that cannot happen, so I would look at other brands of ratcheting wrenches if I was a pro. My GW are fine for home use, but for day in and day out GW are just not going to make it very long, sorry just reality.

You could look at it like this..... You bought Armstrong and they went out of business, so you shouldn't get warrantee at all.

 

[jsmeece]

You could look at it like this..... You bought Armstrong and they went out of business, so you shouldn't get warrantee at all.

yeah thanks for pointing out the obvious.

That could be why many people are staying away from NOS Armstrong ratcheting wrenches, which is one of the reasons I mentioned earlier: WARRANTY GONE!

 

[drtyler]

I've got a set of the Craftsman USA ratcheting wrenches that were made by Armstrong. They are really good, and have held up well. However, I can't say they are any better than the Dewalt ratcheting wrenches that go on sale at Sears and other places regularly.

Buying the Armstrong now doesn't help USA jobs, so I wouldn't pay a premium for them, as some are doing for NOS Craftsman USA stuff on Ebay now. But they are excellent wrenches, so go for it if you can get them for a good price.

 

[lincwelder225]

Update- ended up picking these up instead. They were more expensive than the Armstrong ones, but so far they're great. And if I ever need a replacement, I highly doubt that Snap on is going anywhere. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[PFSard]

And if I ever need a replacement, I highly doubt that Snap on is going anywhere.

Nice set. Can we quote you on the future of Snap-On??? LOL